15: access to meetings and info

Question 1

What did the Local Govenrment Act 2000 do in terms of access to meetings?

Answer 1

Each local authority must publish a Council Constitution available for inspection by public

Question 2

Who is the council system overseen by?

Answer 2

Monitoring officers and often a Standards Committee

Question 3

How can people complain about council?

Answer 3

Commission for Local Administration in England

Question 4

What is he Old Style committee and full council system>

Answer 4

Under the Local Government act 1985, public and journalists have a right to attend all meetings of full council, committees and sub committees.
Exemptions is when meeting discuss exempt or confidential info.

Question 5

What is exempt and confidential info?

Answer 5

Exempt: personal or commerically sensitive information
Confidential: info supplied by government departments or matters of disclosure prohibited by court.

Question 6

under what act can public and journalists attend council meetings

Answer 6

local government act 1985

Question 7

How are council meeting agendas devided?

Answer 7

Part one: business open to public and press
part two: confidential and exempt items

Question 8

what is the new style access to meetings

Answer 8

leader and cabinet system, local government act 2000. accusation of less democratic system. never discussed in meetings open to public

Question 9

2011 Localism Act gave public and journalists right to attend all:

Answer 9

cabinet meetings
full council meetings
committee meetings
sub committee meetings
scrutiny and overview meetings

Question 10

What is the local audit and accountability aact 2014

Answer 10

allows members of press and public to:
-blog
-tweet
-film
-audio record

councils can ask filiming does not interfre with good conduct.

Question 11

what is the advance notice for council meetings?

Answer 11

five days, must provide agendas and background papers, press and public can be excluded if exempt and confidential

Question 12

what us the accounts and audit regulations 2011

Answer 12

cover checking councils detailed financial accounts for 20 working days.
can see spending over £500, sinior salaries

Question 13

What is qualified privilege

Answer 13

you are protected from libel provided report is fair, accurate, published without malice and in the public interest.